I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1460 

To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones 

into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 8, 2011 

Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning 

from combat zones into the VA medical system, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF VETERANS RE4 TURNING FROM COMBAT ZONES INTO THE VA 

5 MEDICAL SYSTEM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the 

7 date on which a veteran described in section 

8 1710(e)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is dis9 charged or separated from service in the active military, 


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1 naval, or air service, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

2 in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, shall— 

3 (1) enroll such veteran in the patient enroll4 ment system maintained by the Secretary under sec5 tion 1705 of that title; and 

6 (2) provide such veteran with— 

7 (A) a veterans identification card that— 

8 (i) demonstrates that such veteran is 

9 enrolled in such system; and 

10 (ii) allows such veteran to access hos11 pital care and medical services at Depart12 ment of Veterans Affairs medical facilities; 

13 (B) a list of Department of Veterans Af14 fairs medical facilities (including hospitals, out15 patient centers, and mental health clinics) that 

16 are— 

17 (i) located within 100 miles of the 

18 home of the veteran; or 

19 (ii) the closest to the veteran’s home, 

20 if no such facilities are located within 100 

21 miles of the home of the veteran; and 

22 (C) a description of available Federal vet23 erans benefits and programs, including edu24 cational benefits and job training and place25 ment programs, which the veteran may be eligiVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:26 Apr 11, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1460.IH H1460

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1 ble for due to the veteran’s service in the active 

2 military, naval, or air service. 

3 (b) OPT OUT PROVISIONS.— 

4 (1) PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.— 

5 (A) OPTION NOT TO ENROLL.—During the 

6 discharge or separation process for a person 

7 from active military, naval, or air service, and 

8 prior to enrolling the person pursuant to sub9 section (a)(1), the Secretary of Veterans Af10 fairs, in coordination with the Secretary of De11 fense, shall provide the person with the option 

12 to decline such enrollment. 

13 (B) NOTICE TO SECRETARY; PROHIBITION

14 ON ENROLLMENT.—If a person provides notice 

15 to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the 

16 person is declining enrollment under subpara17 graph (A), the Secretary may not enroll the 

18 person pursuant to subsection (a)(1). 

19 (2) SUBSEQUENT TO ENROLLMENT.— 

20 (A) NOTICE TO SECRETARY.—Not later 

21 than 6 months after the date on which a vet22 eran is enrolled under section 1705 of title 38, 

23 United States Code, pursuant to subsection 

24 (a)(1), a veteran so enrolled may disenroll from 

25 the patient enrollment system under such secVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:26 Apr 11, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1460.IH H1460

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1 tion by providing notice to the Secretary of Vet2 erans Affairs. 

3 (B) DISENROLLMENT.—Not later than 60 

4 days after receiving notice from a veteran under 

5 subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Veterans 

6 Affairs shall disenroll such veteran from such 

7 patient enrollment system. 

8 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

9 on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment 

10 of this Act. 

Æ 


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